{
  "id": "terminal-dec-private-mode/7",
  "family": "terminal-dec-private-mode",
  "slug": "7",
  "title": "DECSET 7 — DECAWM (autowrap mode)",
  "summary": "CSI ? 7 h (DECAWM set, the usual default) enables autowrap: writing a character in the last column moves the cursor to the start of the next line (with the 'pending wrap' deferred-wrap behavior). CSI ? 7 l disables autowrap, so characters at the right margin overwrite the last cell in place.",
  "kind": "control-sequence",
  "aliases": [
    "DECAWM",
    "autowrap",
    "auto-wrap mode",
    "DECSET 7",
    "?7h / ?7l",
    "line wrap"
  ],
  "status": "standard",
  "verification": "verified",
  "tier": "B",
  "source_url": "https://invisible-island.net/xterm/ctlseqs/ctlseqs.html",
  "source_version": "xterm ctlseqs, patch #410, 2026/04/19",
  "retrieved_date": "2026-05-29",
  "attribution": [
    {
      "claim_ref": "#summary",
      "source_url": "https://invisible-island.net/xterm/ctlseqs/ctlseqs.html",
      "source_version": "xterm patch #410, 2026/04/19",
      "note": "xterm ctlseqs: Ps = 7 -> Auto-Wrap Mode (DECAWM). When set, text wraps to the next line at the right margin; when reset, the cursor stays at the right margin and overwrites."
    },
    {
      "claim_ref": "ext.params",
      "source_url": "https://vt100.net/docs/vt510-rm/DECAWM.html",
      "source_version": "DEC VT510 Programmer Reference, DECAWM, retrieved 2026-05-29",
      "note": "DEC VT510 manual: DECAWM (mode 7) controls whether the cursor wraps to the next line after the rightmost column."
    }
  ],
  "ext_type": "terminal-escape@1",
  "ext": {
    "csi_or_osc": "DEC-private-mode",
    "command_number": 7,
    "frame": {
      "introducer_7bit": "\u001b[?",
      "introducer_7bit_readable": "ESC [ ? (0x1B 0x5B 0x3F)",
      "introducer_8bit": "›?",
      "introducer_8bit_readable": "0x9B ? (8-bit CSI + '?')",
      "note": "DEC private mode (CSI with '?' private prefix). Set = final byte 'h' (DECSET); reset = final byte 'l' (DECRST). Self-terminating."
    },
    "terminator": "none",
    "terminator_detail": {
      "note": "No string terminator: the enable/disable ends at the final byte 'h'/'l'."
    },
    "params": [
      {
        "id": "set",
        "anchor": "#set",
        "name": "Enable (DECSET)",
        "meaning": "CSI ? 7 h enables autowrap: a glyph written in the last column sets a 'pending wrap' so the NEXT glyph appears at column 1 of the following line (the VT deferred-wrap rule).",
        "required": true,
        "byte_sequence_ST": "\u001b[?7h",
        "byte_sequence_ST_readable": "ESC [ ? 7 h   ==  \\x1b[?7h   (set / DECSET)",
        "subparams": []
      },
      {
        "id": "reset",
        "anchor": "#reset",
        "name": "Disable (DECRST)",
        "meaning": "CSI ? 7 l disables autowrap: glyphs written at the right margin overwrite the last column and the cursor does not advance past it.",
        "required": true,
        "byte_sequence_ST": "\u001b[?7l",
        "byte_sequence_ST_readable": "ESC [ ? 7 l   ==  \\x1b[?7l   (reset / DECRST)",
        "subparams": []
      }
    ],
    "gotchas": [
      "The VT 'deferred wrap' / pending-wrap rule means the cursor visually sits in the last column after filling it; the wrap happens when the NEXT printable arrives, not immediately. This trips up cursor-position math.",
      "DECAWM is usually ON by default; programs that draw fixed layouts often turn it OFF (?7l) to avoid accidental wraps, then restore it.",
      "With autowrap off, you cannot write to the very last cell and then move on by printing; you must reposition with CUP.",
      "Wrapping interacts with double-width (CJK) glyphs at the right margin, which may force an early wrap.",
      "Restore the prior autowrap state on exit; leaving ?7l set makes the shell's long lines overwrite themselves."
    ],
    "v1_smoke_test": {
      "asserts": "DECAWM set/reset (?7h / ?7l) render as byte-exact DEC-private-mode sequences; deferred-wrap behavior recorded.",
      "behavioral_conformance": "deferred to v2."
    }
  },
  "updated": "2026-05-29T00:00:00Z"
}